How life has changed in Torbay

Torbay's population increased by about 1,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Torbay increased by 1.0%, from almost 130,000 to 131,000.

The addition of almost 1,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Torbay was home to, on average, 15 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Torbay

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Torbay increased by two years, from 44 to 46 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 4,000.

About 14.0% of people in Torbay are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torbay by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

Torbay saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

During this period, Torbay overtook 23 local authority areas, including South Tyneside and Hartlepool, to become the English local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 19 (5.3%) in Torbay reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.1% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 6.7% to 7.0%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability occurred in Tendring (from 4.0% to 5.3%).

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Torbay increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Torbay, the South West and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Torbay saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

During this period, Torbay overtook 17 local authority areas, including Hartlepool and Stoke-on-Trent, to become the English local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) in Torbay reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.8%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care occurred in East Lindsey (from 3.3% to 4.1%) followed by Rother (from 2.2% to 3.0%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Torbay remained close to 3.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torbay by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The rate of self-employment increased in Torbay, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Isles of Scilly.

Across the South West, the proportion of self-employed people increased from 10.0% to 11.2% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in South Hams (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Torbay) increased from 15.2% to 17.5%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Torbay

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Torbay, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.6 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 29.8% of respondents in Torbay said they had no religion, up from 16.2% in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 68.6% of respondents in Torbay said they were Christian, down from 82.7% in 2001. About 0.6% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from 0.4% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Torbay increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and Torbay by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Torbay that rented privately increased from 16.4% to 23.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 8.1%, while the percentage of Torbay households that owned their home decreased from 73.3% to 66.8%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 17.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Torbay increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Torbay, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Torbay residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11.2% to 7.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (76.1%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63.7% in 2001. The percentage of Torbay residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25.1% to 16.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Torbay decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Torbay, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Torbay that were married decreased from 50.1% to 46.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.1%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 25.3% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Torbay that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 13.4% to 14.8%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 53.2% in 2001 to 49.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Torbay, which comprised a single parent, increased from 9.3% to 10.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.0%) households had a married couple, compared with 31.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in Torbay, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.8% to 9.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Torbay working less than 16 hours increased from 2.2% to 3.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Torbay increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Torbay, the South West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Torbay

The percentage of households with children changed very little in Torbay, while the proportion fell in nearby South Hams.

In Torbay, the proportion of households with children decreased from 25.2% in 2001 to 24.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby South Hams decreased from 27.0% to 24.0%.

Across the South West, the share of households with children decreased from 27.8% to 26.9%.

The proportion of households without children in Torbay remained close to 67.4%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.6% to 8.2%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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